Community News

PDF Gala Celebrates Philanthropy and Science

- May 19 2005

The Parkinson’s Disease Foundation (PDF), a leading national presence in Parkinson’s disease research, education and public advocacy, is honoring two outstanding figures in the Parkinson’s community tonight at its annual gala, Bal du Printemps. The honorees – Page Morton Black, Chairman of the PDF Board of Directors and Dr. Lucien Côté, beloved Parkinson’s physician – demonstrate the evening’s true essence of combining philanthropic giving with science. PDF is also joined by Judith Sulzberger, M.D., author and this year’s Dinner Chair.

Mrs. Black will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of her tireless efforts for more than 40 years to build support for PDF research programs to find the causes of and a cure for Parkinson’s. Mrs. Black’s late husband and creator of the Chock Full o’ Nuts Corporation, Mr. William Black, founded PDF in 1957. Among her vast contributions have been her leadership in conceptualizing PDF’s annual fundraising gala and her success in involving the committed and generous philanthropic leaders of the community who ensure its success. In show business, Mrs. Black helped make the Chock Full o’Nuts coffee jingle one of the most famous in the country. She has also recorded several albums and appeared in top cafés in New York City.

Lucien J. Côté, M.D., Professor of Neurology at Columbia University Medical Center, will be presented with the Page and William Black Humanitarian Award. Dr. Côté has served the Columbia University community as both a researcher and clinician since 1958. He is one of the most respected and beloved Parkinson’s doctors in the world. Among his many accomplishments are the publication of more than 200 journal articles and countless presentations before lay and professional audiences.

The Gala Dinner chair, author and physician Judith Sulzberger, received her medical degree from The Columbia College of Physicians & Surgeons. She serves on The Health Science Advisory Council and the Board of Visitors of Columbia P&S. She has been instrumental in the inception of The Columbia Genome Center, which bears her name. She has recently published a novel entitled, "Younger" which is based on genetics and aging. For several years she wrote a medical column for The East Hampton Star.

About Parkinson’s disease

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder that affects nearly one million people in the U.S. Although promising research is being conducted, there is currently no cure for or definitive cause of Parkinson’s disease. About the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation The Parkinson’s Disease Foundation (PDF) is a leading national presence in Parkinson’s disease research, patient education, and advocacy for increased federal funding. PDF works for the Parkinson’s community by funding promising scientific research and supporting people with Parkinson’s, their families and caregivers through educational programs and support services. Since its founding in 1957, PDF has funded more than $50 million worth of scientific research, supporting the work of leading scientists throughout the world. For more information, visit www.pdf.org.

About the Bal du Printemps

Bal du Printemps is PDF’s annual black tie gala event, held at New York City’s Pierre Hotel. More than 400 guests joined together to help raise over $700,000 to support PDF programs and research grants, as well as to honor outstanding members of the community for their work in the fight against Parkinson’s. This year’s Gala Chairs were Margo Catsimatidis, Karen Burke Goulandris, M.D., Ph.D. and Isobel Robins Konecky; Corporate Chairs were John K. Castle, John A. Catsimatidis and Sy Syms.

Source Date: May 19 2005